Web3 Impact Toolkit

Humanitarian Aid & Cash Transfers

In times of crisis, speed, flexibility, and dignity matter.

Direct cash transfers work because they trust people to know best what they need.

Why Cash Transfers Matter in Humanitarian Aid

When people experience crisis, what they need most isn't always supplies — it's choice.

•Preserves dignity and agency — people know their own needs best.

•Often faster and more cost-effective than shipping goods.

•Supports local economies instead of distorting them.

Challenges in traditional systems: slow disbursement due to banking and bureaucracy, high fees and intermediaries, limited transparency.

How Blockchain & Stablecoins Improve Aid Delivery

What if aid could arrive in minutes instead of weeks, even across borders, at minimal costs?

•Enables direct, peer-to-peer transfers without fragile banking rails.

•Creates a transparent ledger of disbursements.

•Stablecoins avoid volatility while using blockchain infrastructure.

Example: A drought response program used stablecoins to deliver anticipatory cash transfers triggered by satellite data, releasing funds before crisis conditions peaked.

Designing Responsible Cash Transfer Programs

Just because we can automate aid doesn't mean we should remove humans from the process.

•Do no harm — technology should reduce risk, not create new ones.

•Informed consent — participants must understand how funds are delivered.

•Accessibility — simple onboarding, language support, low-tech options.

•Local NGOs and community leaders are essential partners.

The strongest humanitarian tech programs combine automation with empathy.